PRINCETON, N.J. | June 18, 2026
iQure Pharma has been awarded a research grant from The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research (MJFF) to accelerate the development of its EAAT2-targeting program for Parkinson’s disease. The funding, awarded through the Parkinson’s Disease Therapeutics Pipeline Program, will support translational and preclinical studies evaluating iQ-007, the company’s first-in-class clinical-stage EAAT2 modulator, as a potential treatment for neurodegenerative disease. The project aims to generate scientific evidence linking extracellular glutamate regulation with functional improvements in Parkinson’s disease models while identifying potential clinical biomarkers that may help determine which patients are most likely to benefit from EAAT2-targeted therapy. The award further strengthens iQure’s strategy of developing astrocyte-targeted therapies designed to restore glutamate homeostasis across multiple central nervous system (CNS) disorders.
Grant Supports Translational Parkinson’s Disease Research
The MJFF-funded program will investigate how iQ-007 influences disease-related biological pathways across multiple preclinical models of Parkinson’s disease. Researchers will specifically evaluate the relationship between improved extracellular glutamate clearance and functional neurological outcomes through EAAT2 modulation, with the long-term goal of identifying predictive biomarkers for future clinical studies. The project will be led by Principal Investigator Henk de Wilde, in collaboration with Associate Professor Laura Civiero of the University of Padova, whose research focuses on the role of the astroglial system and LRRK2 biology in Parkinson’s disease progression. Additional support will be provided by Atuka Inc., a contract research organization specializing in Parkinson’s disease preclinical models. Together, the collaboration is expected to generate valuable translational data that could guide future clinical development of EAAT2-targeted therapies.
EAAT2 Modulation Targets a Key Disease Mechanism
EAAT2 is the primary transporter responsible for removing excess glutamate from the brain, helping maintain normal synaptic signaling and protecting neurons from excitotoxicity, a process linked to neuronal damage in numerous neurological disorders. Impaired glutamate regulation has been implicated in Parkinson’s disease, epilepsy, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), migraine, and several other chronic CNS conditions. iQ-007 is an orally available small molecule specifically designed to enhance EAAT2 activity, restoring glutamate balance without directly targeting dopamine pathways traditionally associated with Parkinson’s disease treatment. This differentiated mechanism offers the potential to address underlying disease biology rather than simply managing symptoms, positioning EAAT2 modulation as an emerging therapeutic strategy for neurodegenerative diseases.
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Clinical Development Expands Beyond Epilepsy
Originally developed for treatment-resistant epilepsy, iQ-007 has become the first clinical-stage EAAT2 modulator and now represents the foundation of iQure Pharma’s broader neurodegenerative disease pipeline. The newly awarded MJFF grant expands the program into Parkinson’s disease, while the company continues additional preclinical research exploring EAAT2 modulation in ALS, migraine, and other CNS disorders. By focusing on astrocyte biology and restoring glutamate homeostasis, iQure aims to develop disease-modifying therapies capable of interrupting the cycle of neuronal injury that contributes to disease progression. The support from The Michael J. Fox Foundation reinforces growing scientific interest in EAAT2 as a promising therapeutic target and provides an important step toward advancing innovative treatment options for patients living with Parkinson’s disease and related neurological disorders.
Source: iQure Pharma press release
